Sink or Swim For Pools

Hartlepool United are the visitors to the Keepmoat this weekend as Rovers look to maintain their position at the top of League One going into the final 12 games of the season.

Although the Pools currently lie in 23rd place in the division, John Hughes brings his side to South Yorkshire buoyant after a three-goal victory over Crewe on Tuesday night.

However with just two wins in their last 10 visits to Doncaster, it could be said Hartlepool will have to be on the top of their game to take the three points back North to Victoria Park.

Back in 2005 Hartlepool were sitting pretty in the hunt for a playoff spot as Rovers were hot on their heels looking to get into the top six with just three games to go. The fans at Belle Vue were looking for a second win in as many games after a terrific 4-2 win at Stockport a week earlier and they weren’t to be disappointed.

Lewis Guy was guilty of missing a good opportunity midway through the first half when he headed wide of the mark as Rovers piled on the pressure after James Coppinger and Ricky Ravenhill both had shots blocked. Whatever the visiting defence could do Rovers backline matched as Nick Fenton denied Anthony Sweeney a goalscoring chance before helping crowd out Pools’ top scorer Adam Boyd.

It was a open and end to end game with defences being on top but early in the second half the visitors were to rue a missed chance after Eifion Williams couldn’t convert a great chance created by Boyd.

Minutes later Rovers pounced when Guy made a purposeful forward run before finding Ravenhill who lashed the ball home to open the scoring. From then on it was one way traffic as Rovers poured forward, sub Gregg Blundell shot wide before Michael McIndoe was denied by ‘keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos with minutes to go.

The home side were to get the second goal their dominance deserved when Leo Fortune West forced home from close range after good work from Paul Green leaving Rovers five points off the top six with two games to play.